PNC-AFC Talks Collapse a ‘Catastrophic Political Failure’- Dr. Devonish

Village Voice News’ columnist and renowned physician, Dr. Mark Devonish, has condemned the failed coalition talks between the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), calling the breakdown not just inevitable—but a catastrophic loss for opposition forces and the Guyanese people.

In a blunt and uncompromising op-ed today, titled “PNC and AFC Failed Negotiations: An Opportunity Lost”, Devonish argued that while the negotiations may have started with good intentions, they were fatally undermined by “runaway egos,” political inflexibility, and a total disregard for public sentiment.

Talks between the two sides to form a coalition for the 2025 elections collapsed in March. Publicly available information suggests the negotiations broke down over disputes regarding the percentage allocation of ministerial and parliamentary positions, and disagreement over who would be the presidential candidate.

Based on recent public statements from the leaders of both parties, the prospect of those talks being revived now appears slim to nonexistent. Observers have noted that both sides seemed more focused on dividing positions of power than on developing a coherent, consensus-driven agenda to guide their decisions.

“This failure represents a barometer of the PNC and AFC’s unwillingness to compromise,” Devonish wrote. “Even as collapse loomed, both parties clung to narrow self-interest and unrealistic coalition demands.” 

A Coalition Undone by Ego

Devonish said the public collapse—fueled by disputes over the presidential candidacy and ministerial portfolios—showcased the widening gulf between the political elite and the expectations of their base. Despite both parties claiming to act in good faith, they entered talks burdened by irreconcilable positions and, according to Devonish, “unreasonable demands that doomed the outcome from the start.”

The AFC, in particular, is singled out for “political overstretch,” having reportedly demanded 40% of post-election ministries—despite never securing even 30% of the vote. “It was absurd,” Devonish said, given their electoral track record.

Citing fresh polling data, Devonish noted that 62% of Guyanese want a change in political leadership, and among opposition-aligned voters, 69% oppose Aubrey Norton’s continued leadership of the APNU+AFC coalition. Despite this, the PNC and AFC pushed forward with negotiations rooted in ego and not public will.

“Informed by the data, it is clear the electorate is not amenable to either Nigel Hughes or Aubrey Norton leading the opposition ticket,” he wrote. “Yet, the parties ignored their own supporters.”

Opportunity Lost, Consequences Ahead

Devonish stressed that the opposition’s failure to form a united front is especially damaging given the PPP’s entrenched grip on power. He accused the PPP of operating with impunity—citing corruption, discrimination, and state abuse—and said this moment called for national prioritisation, not political posturing.

“The negotiations should have been treated as a matter of national urgency,” he warned. “Instead, driven by self-centered egos, the opportunity was squandered—and at a catastrophic political price.”

Devonish concluded that the failure is more than a missed strategic chance—it is a betrayal of long-suffering supporters desperate for change.

“This outcome was always inevitable,” he wrote, “but no less tragic for that fact.”